Koryolink

Koryolink, North Korea's sole 3G mobile network, operates under the MCC (Mobile Country Code) 467, identifying North Korea, and the MNC (Mobile Network Code) 05. Launched as a joint venture between Cheo Technology JV Company, a telecommunications firm, and the state-owned Korea Post and Telecommunications Corporation (KPSTC), Koryolink marked a significant, albeit limited, step in connecting portions of the isolated nation. Unlike many networks globally, access to Koryolink has historically been heavily restricted, primarily catering to an elite segment of the population and foreign residents, with internet access severely curtailed and closely monitored. While Koryolink represented a major development in North Korea's telecommunications infrastructure, providing a 3G service at a time when much of the world was transitioning to 4G and beyond, its accessibility and functionality remain unique. Its 3G UMTS network, despite its limitations compared to global standards of the time, once allowed, access to international dialing and a degree of local connectivity for those permitted to subscribe. Any comparison to other, similarly sanctioned mobile networks, highlights the stringent controls placed upon network usage within North Korea.